An electric starter system for an internal combustion includes a pinion gear, a pinion solenoid coupled to the pinion gear, a starter motor that is selectively connectable to the flywheel of the engine via the pinion gear, and a controller in communication with the pinion solenoid and the starter motor. In response to an engine auto-stop signal, the controller is configured to translate the pinion gear into contact with the flywheel and the motor, and cause rotation of the engine crankshaft to a predetermined crank angle. In response to an engine auto-start signal, the controller is configured to command delivery of motor torque from the starter motor, through the pinion gear, and to the flywheel for a duration sufficient for starting the engine.

The present invention relates to a freewheel damper arrangement (2) for a motor vehicle having a torsional vibration damper (18) having a damper shell (22), spring elements (30) arranged in the damper shell (22) and a damper flange (34) coupled torsionally elastically to the damper shell (22) via the spring elements (30), and a starter freewheel (20) having a first race (58) which can be driven by a starter motor (70) and a second race (60) which is assigned to the damper shell (22), between which clamping elements (62) are arranged. The second race (60) is non-rotatably fastened to the damper shell (22).

The present invention relates to a freewheel-damper assembly (2) for a motor vehicle, having a torsional vibration damper (18) with a primary element (20) which is connectible or connected, on a drive side (36) of the torsional vibration damper (18), to a drive shaft (38), and with a secondary element (22) which is torsionally elastically coupled to the primary element (20) and which is connectible or connected, on an output side (46) of the torsional vibration damper (18) facing away from the drive side (36), to a transmission input shaft (48), and with a starter freewheel (58), via which the primary element (20) can be indirectly or directly driven by a starter motor (60). The starter freewheel (58) is arranged on the output side (46) of the torsional vibration damper (18). The present invention moreover relates to a drivetrain for a motor vehicle having such a freewheel-damper assembly (2).

A permanently engaged starter system for use in a vehicle includes a dual-mass flywheel. The vehicle includes a crankshaft, an engine block, and a transmission. The dual-mass flywheel includes an engine side primary mass, a transmission side primary mass rotatably coupled to the engine side primary mass, and a secondary mass rotatably coupled to the transmission side primary mass. The permanently engaged starter system also includes a one-way clutch including an inner race disposed about the axis. The permanently engages starter system additionally includes a ring gear rotatably coupled to the inner race of the one-way clutch. The transmission side primary mass or the secondary mass of the dual-mass flywheel is configured to be an outer race for the one-way clutch.

A permanently engaged starter system for use in a vehicle includes a flex plate. The vehicle includes a crankshaft and an engine block. The flex plate extends along and is rotatable about an axis. The flex plate is adapted to be rotatably coupled to the crankshaft. The permanently engaged starter system also includes a one-way clutch including an outer and inner race. The permanently engaged starter system additionally includes a ring gear rotatably coupled to one of the inner race and the outer race of the one-way clutch. The permanently engaged starter system further includes a starter support plate, and a pilot support plate coupled to the ring gear. The pilot support plate is fixedly coupled to the starter support plate and is configured to axially and radially align and retain the ring gear and one of the inner race and the outer race with respect to the axis.

A permanently engaged starter system for use in a vehicle includes a duel-mass flywheel. The vehicle includes crankshaft, an engine block, and a transmission. The dual-mass flywheel includes an engine side primary, a transmission side primary mass, and a secondary mass. The permanently engaged starter system also includes a one-way clutch including an outer race disposed about the axis, and an inner race disposed about the axis and disposed between the outer race and the axis. The permanently engaged starter system additionally includes a ring gear rotatably coupled to one of the inner race and the outer race of the one-way clutch, with the other of the inner race and the outer race being rotatably coupled to the transmission side primary mass of the dual-mass flywheel. The one-way clutch is nested within the dual-mass flywheel with respect to the axis

A hybrid electric vehicle and method of its control include a parallel hybrid powertrain including an engine, a transmission, a battery system, a first electric motor coupled to the engine by a first clutch between the engine and the first electric motor, a second electric motor coupled to the transmission and to the first electric motor by a second clutch between the first and second electric motors, and a controller configured to control the parallel hybrid powertrain for optimal operation across a plurality of different propulsion and charging modes, including calculating cost values for each of the engine and the first and second electric motors and selecting optimal propulsion and charging modes based on the calculated cost values.

A method for operating a vehicle that may be automatically stopped and started is described. In one example, the method includes starting an engine via expansion stroke combustion in response to a request to urgently start the engine. In addition, the method includes adjusting a position of a compression relief valve in response to a predicted urgency of an engine start.

Systems and methods for operating an engine that may selectively enter and exit a fuel cut-off mode are described. In one example, the method holds the engine in the fuel cut-off mode even though a propulsive effort pedal is applied. An electric machine may provide torque to a vehicle driveline while the engine is in the fuel cut-off mode.

A clutch arrangement (3) with a friction clutch (8) and a dog clutch (9), wherein the output side of the friction clutch (8) and the output side of the dog clutch (9) are connectible to a flywheel mass device (4). A powertrain unit having such clutch arrangement is also described.